Founding Fathers: Respect
for God, Bible, Religious Freedom

What view did our founding fathers and the Continental Congress hold about the relationship between government and the Bible, religion, respect for God, and religious freedom? Did
they believe that a
"wall of separation between church and state" should remove God and the Bible from education and government?

The Continental Congress served as the chief legislative body for the
original American colonies throughout the Revolutionary War until the adoption
of the Constitution. This spanned essentially from 1774 into 1789. If any
group of men could be considered the "founding fathers" of our
country, it would be this group. Many of them participated in writing the
Constitution. If any men could ever have possessed a clear understanding of
how the founding fathers viewed the Bible and respect for God, it would have
been these men.

For other similar articles, see:

Consider the facts we here document about this Congress. When a person
knows the truth about the views of the founding fathers of this country, who
can seriously defend the view that they intended to write the Constitution in
such a way as to remove the teachings of the Bible and the praise of God from
all governmental and educational institutions?

On the contrary, they repeatedly included the Bible, God, prayer, worship,
and religion in the schools and throughout the affairs of government. They
clearly viewed it as one purpose of government to encourage and defend
religious freedom, and one purpose of religion to promote morality and decency
throughout the land, including the government.

"When the righteous are in authority, the people
rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan" - Prov. 29:2.

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach
to any people" - Prov. 14:34

"I exhort ... that supplications, prayers, and giving of thanks be made
for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live a quiet
and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." - 1 Timothy 2:2

Congress' First Act: A Resolution to Pray

On September 6, 1774, the first act of the first session of the
Continental Congress was to pass a resolution to open its next meeting
with prayer. This prayer included reading Psalm 35 and the following words:

O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty King of kings
and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the
dwellers on earth, and reignest with power supreme and
uncontrolled over all the kingdoms, empires, and
governments; look down in mercy, we beseech thee, on these
American States ... desiring to be henceforth dependent only
on thee; to thee they have appealed for the righteousness of
their cause; to thee do they now look up for that
countenance and support which thou alone canst give; take
them, therefore, heavenly Father, under thy nurturing care
... Be thou present, God of wisdom, and direct the councils
of this honorable assembly ... that order, harmony, and
peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice,
religion and piety, prevail and flourish amongst thy people
... and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to
come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of
Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Saviour. Amen! (Journals of Congress, via Morris, pp
246,249f; Federer, pp 136,137; Barton, p92)

Congress Ordered Purchase and Printing of Bibles

On September 11, 1777, the following recommendation was approved by the
Continental Congress

...the use of the Bible is so universal, and its
importance so great, ... the committee recommend that
Congress will order the Committee of Commerce to import
20,000 Bibles from Holland, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the
different ports of the States of the Union. (via Morris, p252, and Federer, p146)

Again, on September 10, 1782, Congress approved the
printing of Bibles in America by a man named Robert Aitkin.
Congress passed the following resolution, which was printed on
the front page of the Bible:

Whereupon, Resolved, That the United States, in Congress
assembled, highly approve of the pious and laudable
undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to the interests
of religion, ... they recommend this edition of the Bible to
the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize
him to publish this recommendation in the manner he shall
think proper. (via Morris,
p254f, Federer, p149, and Barton, pp 107,108; For a picture and further
documentation see wallbuilders.com)

Interestingly, Aitkin's request, approved by Congress, specifically stated
that the Bible would be "for the use of schools"!

Congress Expressly Promoted Religion

On October 12, 1778, Congress passed the following act in which it directly
encouraged religion and morality:

Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of
public liberty and happiness: Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby
earnestly recommended to the several States to take the most effectual
measures for the encouragement thereof. (Journals of Congress, via Barton,
p106)

The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, of course, was written under the
guidance of the Continental Congress, which formally adopted it on July 4,
1776, and signed it August 2, 1776. The Declaration directly appeals to
God at least four times:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary
for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the
Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitles them...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are
created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with
certain inalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness...

We, Therefore, the Representatives of the United States of
America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our
intentions...

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm
reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred
Honor.

Congress Appointed Days Of Prayer, Thanksgiving, and Repentance

In the approximately fifteen years of its existence, the
Continental Congress approved at least fifteen proclamations calling on the
states to appoint days of special worship or honor to God. Though they may
seem repetitious, I have listed below all the ones I found simply to
demonstrate how deeply involved the Congress was in emphasizing religion and
respect for God.

By way of summary, these official congressional
proclamations promote all the following:
* prayer to God
* thanksgiving to God
* worship and praise of God
* church meetings to honor God
* encouragement of morality and discouragement of immorality, profanity, etc.
* appreciation for the gospel
* requests for religious freedom
* requests for God's blessing on the spread of the gospel
* recognition of Christianity and forgiveness through Jesus Christ
* repentance and confession to God for sins
* appeals to God for forgiveness
* recognition of God as the Creator
* acknowledgement that God rules in the affairs of men
* requests for citizens to respect and obey God's will
* requests for God's blessings on churches and government officials
* requests for God's blessings and guidance on schools
* acknowledgement that schools should teach piety and religious values
* requests for God to provide and bless faithful preachers of the gospel
* requests that citizens may receive God's eternal reward

The following quotations are excerpts from official annals of the
Continental Congress as recorded on pp 656-678 of Christian Life And
Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, B. F.
Morris. (Some are confirmed elsewhere as noted below.)

May 17, 1776

... it becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and
happy colonies, with true penitence of heart and the most reverent
devotion, publicly to acknowledge the overruling providence of
God, to confess and deplore our offences against him...

The Congress, therefore, ... desirous, at the same time, to have
people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense
of God's superintending providence, and of their duty devoutly
to rely, in all their lawful enterprises, on his aid and
direction, do earnestly recommend that Friday, the 17th day of May
next, be observed by the said colonies as a day of humiliation,
fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united hearts, confess and
bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere
repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous
displeasure, and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ
obtain his pardon and forgiveness; ... and grant that a spirit of
incorruptible patriotism and of pure, undefiled religion may
universally prevail ... And it is recommended to Christians of all
denominations to assemble for public worship, and abstain from
servile labor, on said day. (See also Federer, p141)

First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving - December 18, 1777

Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore
the superintending providence of Almighty God, to acknowledge with
gratitude their obligations to him for benefits received, and to
implore such further blessings as they stand in need of; and it
having pleased him in his abundant mercy ... to continue to us the
innumerable bounties of his common providence...: it is,
therefore, recommended to the legislative or executive powers of
these United States to set apart Thursday, the 18th day of
December, for solemn thanksgiving and praise; that with one heart
and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of
their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their
Divine Benefactor, and that together with their sincere
acknowledgments of kind offerings they may join the penitent
confession of their manifold sins, whereby they had forfeited
every favor, and their humble and earnest supplication that it may
please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to
forgive and blot them out of remembrance; that it may please him
graciously ..., to take schools and seminaries of education, so
necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue,
and piety, under his nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of
religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which
consisteth in righteousness, peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost.
(See also Federer, p147.)

December 30, 1778

It having pleased Almighty God ... to bestow many great and
manifold mercies on the people of these United States, and it
being the indispensable duty of all men gratefully to acknowledge
their obligations to him for benefits received:

Resolved, That it be, and is hereby, recommended to the
legislative or executive authority of each of the said States to
appoint Wednesday, the 30th of December next, to be observed as a
day of public thanksgiving and praise, that all the people may,
with united hearts, on that day, express a just sense of his
unmerited favors ...

And it is further recommended that together with devout
thanksgivings may be joined a penitent confession of our sins, and
humble supplication for pardon, through the merits of our Saviour...

April 22, 1779

Whereas, ... it being at all times the duty of a people to
acknowledge God in all his ways, and ... to acknowledge his
righteous government, confess and forsake their evil ways, and
implore his mercy;

Resolved, That it be recommended to the United States of America
to set apart Wednesday, the 22d day of April next, to be observed
as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer; that at one time and
with one voice the inhabitants may acknowledge the righteous
dispensations of Divine Providence, and confess their iniquities
and transgressions, for which the land mourneth; that they may
implore the mercy and forgiveness of God, and beseech him that
vice, profaneness, extortion, and every evil may be done away, and
that we may be a reformed and a happy people; that they may unite
in humble and earnest supplication ... that it may please him to
bless our schools and seminaries of learning, and make them
nurseries of true piety, virtue, and useful knowledge...

May, 1779

Whereas, ... too few have been sufficiently awakened to a sense
of their guilt, or warmed with gratitude, or taught to amend their
lives and turn from their sins, so he might turn from his wrath;
and whereas, from a consciousness of what we have merited at his
hands...

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to
appoint the first Thursday in May next to be a day of fasting,
humiliation, and prayer to Almighty God that ... he will grant us
his grace to repent of our sins and amend our lives according to
his holy word; ... that he will diffuse useful knowledge, extend
true religion, and give us that peace of mind which the world
cannot give ...

December 9, 1779

Whereas it becomes us humbly to approach the throne of Almighty
God with gratitude and praise for the wonders which his goodness
has wrought in conducting our forefathers to this Western world,
for his protection to them and to their posterity amidst
difficulties and dangers, ... and, above all, that he hath
diffused the glorious light of the gospel, whereby, through the
merits of our gracious Redeemer, we may become the heirs of his
eternal glory; therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several States to
appoint Thursday, the 9th of December next, to be a day of public
and solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God for his mercies, and of
prayer for the continuance of his favor and protection to these
United States; ... that he would grant to his Church the plentiful
effusions of Divine grace, and pour out his Holy Spirit on all
ministers of the gospel; that he would bless and prosper the means
of education, and spread the light of Christian knowledge through
the remotest corners of the earth; ... that he would in mercy look
down upon us, pardon our sins, and receive us into his favor; and,
finally, that he would establish the independence of these United
States upon the basis of religion and virtue, and support and
protect them in the enjoyment of peace, liberty, and safety.

April 26, 1780

A PROCLAMATION FOR A FAST.

... it becomes us to endeavor, by humbling ourselves before [the
righteous Governor of the world] and turning from every evil way,
to avert his anger and obtain his favor and blessing; it is,
therefore, recommended to the several States --

That Wednesday, the twenty-sixth day of April next, be set apart
and observed as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, that we
may with one heart and one voice implore the sovereign Lord of
heaven and earth to remember mercy in his judgments; to make us
sincerely penitent for our transgressions; ... to banish vice and
irreligion from among us, and establish virtue and piety by his
Divine grace...

May 3, 1780

Proclamation.

At all times it is our duty to acknowledge the overruling
providence of the Great Governor of the universe, and devoutly to
implore his Divine favor and protection. ... we are peculiarly
excited with true penitence of heart to prostrate ourselves before
our great Creator, and fervently to supplicate his gracious
interposition for our deliverance.

The United States in Congress assembled, therefore, do earnestly
recommend that Thursday, the third day of May next, may be
observed as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, that we may
with united hearts confess and bewail our manifold sins and
transgressions, and by sincere repentance and amendment of life
appease his righteous displeasure, and, through the merits of our
blessed Saviour, obtain pardon and forgiveness; ... that it may
please him to bless all schools and seminaries of learning, and to
grant that truth, justice, and benevolence and pure and undefiled
religion may universally prevail.

December 7, 1780

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of all mercies
... to bestow blessings on the people of these States, which call
for their devout and thankful acknowledgments ... and, above all,
in continuing to us the gospel of peace:

It is, therefore, recommended to the several States to set apart
Thursday, the 7th day of December next, to be observed as a day of
public thanksgiving and prayer; that all the people may assemble
on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor, to
confess our unworthiness of the least of his favors, and to offer
our fervent supplications to the God of all grace, that it may
please him to pardon our heinous transgressions and incline our
hearts in the future to keep all his laws; ... to cherish all
schools and seminaries of education, and to cause the knowledge of
Christianity to spread over all the earth. (See also Federer, p148 and Barton,
pp 106f)

December 13, 1781

PROCLAMATION

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God. the Father of mercies,
remarkably to assist and support the United States of America ...
it is the duty of all ranks to observe and thankfully to
acknowledge the interpositions of his providence in their behalf
...

It is therefore recommended to the several States to set apart
the 13th day of December next, to be religiously observed as a day
of thanksgiving and prayer; that all the people may assemble on
that day, with grateful hearts, to celebrate the praises of our
gracious Benefactor; to confess our manifold sins, to offer up our
most fervent supplications to the God of all grace that it may
please him to pardon our offences, and incline our hearts in the
future to keep all his laws; ... to bless all seminaries of
learning, and cause the knowledge of God to cover the earth as the
waters cover the sea.

April, 1782

Proclamation

The goodness of the Supreme Being to all his rational creatures
demands their acknowledgments of gratitude and love; his absolute
government of this world dictates that it is the interest of every
nation and people ardently to supplicate his favor and implore his
protection. ...

The United States in Congress assembled, therefore, taking into
consideration ... our multiplied transgressions of the holy laws
of our God, and his past acts of kindness and goodness towards us,
which we ought to record with the liveliest gratitude, think it
their indispensable duty to call upon the several States to set
apart the last Thursday in April next as a day of fasting,
humiliation, and prayer, that our joint supplications may then
ascend to the throne of the Ruler of the universe, beseeching him
to diffuse a spirit of universal reformation among all ranks and
degrees of our citizens, and make us a holy, that we may be a
happy, people; ... and take under his guardianship all schools and
seminaries of learning, and make them nurseries of virtue and
piety; that he would incline the hearts of all men to peace, and
fill them with universal charity and benevolence, and that the
religion of our Divine Redeemer, with all its benign influences,
may cover the earth as the waters cover the seas.

November 28, 1782

It being the indispensable duty of all nations not only to offer
up their supplications to Almighty God, the Giver of all good, ...
but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his
goodness in general, and especially for great and signal
interpositions of his providence in their behalf; therefore the
United States in Congress assembled ... do hereby recommend it to
the inhabitants of these States in general, to observe, and
request the several States to interpose their authority in
appointing and commanding the observation of, Thursday, the 28th
day of November next, as a day of solemn thanksgiving to God for
all his mercies; and they do further recommend to all ranks to
testify their gratitude to God for his goodness, by a cheerful
obedience to his laws, and by promoting, each in his station and
by his influence, the practice of true and undefiled religion,
which is the great foundation of public prosperity and national
happiness.

December, 1783

By the United States in Congress assembled.

A Proclamation.

Whereas ... the interposition of Divine Providence in our favor
hath been most abundantly and most graciously manifested, and the
citizens of these United States have every reason for praise and
gratitude to the God of their salvation; impressed, therefore,
with an exalted sense of the blessings with which we are
surrounded and of entire dependence on that Almighty Being from
whose goodness and bounty they are derived, the United States in
Congress assembled do recommend it to the several States to set
apart the second Thursday in December next as a day of public
thanksgiving, that all the people may then assemble to celebrate,
with grateful hearts and united voices, the praises of their
supreme and all-bountiful Benefactor for his numberless favors and
mercies; ... and, above all, that he hath been pleased to continue
unto us the light of the blessed gospel, and secured to us in the
fullest extent the rights of conscience in faith and worship; and
while our hearts overflow with gratitude, and our lips set forth
the praises of our great Creator, that we also offer up fervent
supplications that it may please him to pardon all our offences
...; to smile upon our seminaries and means of education, to cause
pure religion and virtue to flourish, to give peace to all
nations, and to fill the world with his glory. (See also Barton, pp 109f)

October 19, 1787

By the United States of America in a Committee of the States
assembled.

A Proclamation.

Whereas ... the citizens of the United States have the greatest
reason to return their most hearty and sincere praises and
thanksgiving to the God of their deliverance, whose name be
praised. Deeply impressed, therefore, with a sense of his mercies
manifested to these United States, and of the blessings which it
hath pleased God to shower down on us, of our future dependence at
all times on his power and mercy, as the only source from which so
great benefits can be derived:--

We the United States of America, in the Committee of the States
assembled, do earnestly recommend to the Supreme Executive of the
several States to set apart Tuesday, the nineteenth day of October
next, as a day of public prayer and thanksgiving, that all the
people of the United States may then assemble in their respective
churches and congregations, to celebrate with grateful hearts and
joyful and united voices the mercies and praises of their
all-bountiful Creator, most holy and most righteous, for his
innumerable favors and mercies vouchsafed unto them ... and, above
all, that he hath been pleased to continue to us the light of
gospel truth, and secured to us in the fullest manner the rights
of conscience in faith and worship.

And while our hearts overflow with gratitude and our lips
pronounce the praises of our great and merciful Creator, that we
may also offer up our joint and fervent supplications that it may
please him of his infinite goodness and mercy to pardon all our
sins and offences; ... and to raise up from among our youth men
eminent for virtue, learning, and piety, to his service in Church
and State; to cause virtue and true religion to flourish; to give
to all nations amity, peace, and concord, and to fill the world
with his glory.

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